Why representation as a female leader matters

My journey shows how much is possible when you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone and embrace development opportunities.

Eleven years ago, after moving to the UK, I joined Co-op as an agency warehouse operative. Looking back, I could never have imagined the opportunities that would come my way. Since then, I've built my career at Co-op, progressing through several roles, becoming the first female back shift manager at Avonmouth depot, working as part of the Logistics Implementation Team helping deliver some of our biggest change initiatives in Logistics and eventually securing a senior leadership role as the Labour Management Lead.

At the time, female leadership representation was limited, and for a long time I questioned whether leadership was really for me because I didn't see many people like me doing it.

That's why I was so excited when I heard about the Women in Leadership programme. It felt like a chance to build my skills, learn from others and help reinforce the importance of female representation in leadership. I was fortunate to secure a place on the pilot programme and later completed it with a distinction.

One of the biggest things the programme gave me was confidence. It encouraged me to connect with colleagues from across Co-op, including teams I’d never worked with before.

At first, reaching out to people I didn't know felt intimidating, but those conversations opened my eyes to the breadth of opportunities available and helped me develop a wider understanding of our business. It reminded me that there is a whole world of opportunities beyond the area you're working in today.

My advice to other women

For any women considering a development opportunity, especially in a traditionally male-dominated environment, my advice is simple: don't wait until you feel 100% ready. Apply anyway.

Representation matters. Seeing what others have achieved helps us believe we can achieve it too. I'm passionate about sharing my experience because I remember how valuable it would have been to hear from other women leaders earlier in my career.

Looking back on my own journey, I hope it shows that your starting point doesn't define your future. There are opportunities out there, and with support, curiosity and determination, you can achieve far more than you might think.

Beatrice Dodan, Labour Management Lead

Looking for your next opportunity? Visit the Development pages on the Colleague Hub to explore what's available and connect with Aspire, our women's colleague network, for support, inspiration and networking opportunities with women across Co-op.